Triston Palma

Triston Palma (born 1962) is a Jamaican reggae singer and deejay who has been active since the mid-1970s. Raised in Kingston’s Waltham Park area, he developed an early passion for music and began singing while still a child. His first recording came at just eight years old with “Love Is a Message” for producer Bunny Lee, followed by “A-Class Girl” on the Black Solidarity label, which he co-ran with Ossie Thomas. These early recordings marked the beginning of a long and productive career in Jamaican music. Palma achieved major recognition after his standout performance at the 1979 General Penitentiary Memorial Concert for Claudie Massop, which also featured Bob Marley. By the early 1980s, he was one of Jamaica’s most popular artists, at one point placing nine songs in the local Top 40. His biggest hit, “Entertainment,” produced by Jah Thomas, became a defining dancehall anthem and helped establish Palma as a leading figure in the emerging singjay style. Other successful collaborations with Jah Thomas included “Water Bubbling,” “Spliff Tail,” “Raving,” and “Touch Me, Take Me.” Throughout his career, Palma has worked with many notable producers, including Linval Thompson, George Phang, Sugar Minott, and Tony Robinson. He remained popular through the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to socially conscious projects such as the famine-relief single “Land of Africa” and collaborating with Dennis Brown and Beenie Man on Three Against War. In addition to performing, Palma has built a reputation as a producer, working with artists like Phillip Frazer and Josey Wales, providing backing vocals for major singers, and establishing his own Star Creation studio.